H/T bas in the FanPosts.
Today, the Kansas City Chiefs officially added DE Andy Studebaker and LB Curtis Gatewood to the 53 man roster.
The Chiefs also promoted Jackie Battle from the practice squad to the 53 man roster and added DT Antwon Burton to the practice squad.
Gatewood (6-2, 248) signed with Washington as a rookie free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2008. He appeared in three preseason contests with the Redskins before being released. He has spent nine weeks on Washington’s practice squad this season. The Memphis, Tennessee native played in 47 games (24 starts) and tallied 110 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks in his four-year career at Vanderbilt. Gatewood was a Class 5A first team all-region selection and defensive MVP as a prep at White Station High School in Memphis, Tennessee.
Studebaker (6-3, 248) was the third of Philadelphia’s three sixth-round draft choices (203rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Wheaton College (IL) product spent the last 11 weeks on Philadelphia’s practice squad. He appeared in all four of the Eagles preseason tilts and, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.
Burton (6-2, 308) has seen duty in seven NFL contests over the last two seasons with Denver, tallying nine tackles (five solo). He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Denver in 2006, spending time on the Broncos practice squad before joining the 53-man roster for the final eight games of the 2006 season. Burton saw his most extensive NFL action a season ago, appearing in six contests and registering eight tackles (five solo) before spending the final seven weeks of 2007 on Denver’s developmental squad. He attended training camp with Cincinnati in 2008, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.
To make room for these additions, the Chiefs released RB Dantrell Savage and LB Erik Walden. They also put DE Turk McBride on the injured reserve list.
We'll take Savage's release as a sign that the Chiefs are satisfied with rookie KR Kevin Robinson. As for Savage, he wasn't no better than anyone else the Chiefs had at returner this year.
0 recs | 25 comments
I don't like these moves
The Chiefs evidently favor Battle’s power running game over Savage’s speed. They’ve clung onto him longer so they evidently think he has potentail, but if so why wasn’t he the one playing against San Diego instead of Dantrell? I liked Savage as a halfback (thats what he IS, not a KR or PR they threw him into) and Walden’s contributions on special teams. I know he had a penalty last week but I was hoping he’d develop into a respectable LB and keep his roster spot. I don’t know anything about these new guys but they seem more like Kyle Shotwell material than Jason Babin…
KansasCityShuffle - November 19, 2008
Savage
If I recall the rules correctly, Battle won’t be eligable for the PS next year, so they may want to give him a shot to prove himself so they can make a final decision on whether to carry him on the roster next year or just cut him loose altogether. LJs situation may have a lot to do with that too. If the Chiefs are seriously considering getting rid of him this offseason, they will need a power runner to replace him. If they think Battle might be able to do that, they need to find out because if he can’t they will be looking in the draft or free agency this offseason.
I like Savage a lot, he’s a great story. But as much as we would like to wish he is, he’s not a Darron Sproles. He has heart, but hasn’t been able to show much. If he was going to stick with this team, it was going to have to be as a returner and though he’s definately better than Sams or Drummond, he hasn’t been very consistent and there has never been a threat of him breaking loose a long one. I don’t know if he’s already played too many games or not, but maybe he could get on the practice squad and we can have another look at him next year.
As for Walden, he did great on Special Teams earlier in the season but has absolutely disappeared the last 4 or 5 games. The fact that as bad as our LB corp has been he hasn’t been brought in to play LB seems to tell a lot about his ability at that position.
ChiefDJ - November 19, 2008
DJ
Excellent analysis of Battle and I think you’re absolutely right. Thanks for pointing out that information.
We also cut Napoleon Harris this season so they have no credbility with me regarding linebackers and talent. Of course he wasn’t the best but the situation we’re in we have no room to be picky. Out with Walden, in with Gatewood. We’ll see how she goes
KansasCityShuffle - November 19, 2008
Nap Harris
So what don’t you like about their handling of Harris?
They brought in a guy they thought would work in their system and it turned out he didn’t so they cut him rather than keep him around for years like they did Kendrell Bell. The impression I get was that the problem was as much to do with Harris’s attitude as his play (which wasn’t fantastic either).
Nobody is perfect and every organization makes mistakes when it comes to putting players on the roster. At least the Chiefs recognized they made a mistake with Harris and cut him loose rather than keep him around taking up a roster spot.
ChiefDJ - November 19, 2008
What I don't like
is the fact we could have used him. Perhaps we saved more money by cutting him at the time we did (after the trade deadline) than if waited till end of the season. I’m not arguing he was a core player, its just my opinion better he’s better than players we’ve got. And he didn’t even get a chance this season. Week 1-6 I don’t think he even stepped foot on the field to my knowledge. His performance last year was one thing, this is a new season he at least deserved a shot (considering our talent/depth at LB or lack thereof). By the way readers pointed out he lead the team in tackles last year. I think he already has a sack to with Minnesota and he’s probably played in what……2-3 games? I think its just I’m not so much buying the players are flawed anymore than its the system. Kendrell Bell is the exception but what about Scott Fujita, Kawika Mitchell? Who DOES fit into the system then? How many do you have to go through to find those who fit and what’s it say when those we discard go onto be stars elsewhere?
KansasCityShuffle - November 19, 2008
Napoleon Harris was a cancer
Our problem was with the acquiring of him in the first place. Harris was supposed to be star, instead he was a dud who was vocally unhappy hear. We’re not putting ourselves in the untenable position of defending the defensive personnel decision of late, but de-nap-harris-ing the Chiefs was a good call.
We also wouldn’t describe Fujita and Mitchell as systemic failures that went on to be “stars” elsewhere. Mitchell for whatever reason wasn’t in high demand around the league after the Chiefs didn’t resign him (still we had the best look at him). Fujita actually had better numbers here, and we wouldn’t call him a star, NO’s defense isn’t too much better than KC’s lately.
Admittedly, with the exception of Nap Harris we’d take either over our current state. What is sketchy is why Gunther has not had the control to implement a consistency in our defensive scheme seems to gravely lack.
Official Arrowhead Pride Parade - November 20, 2008
So let me get this straight
Kawika Mitchell -don’t re-sign and signs with the Giants for $1 Mil. guaranteed…wins SB with them. (He subsequently signed with Bills for 3.5 Mil guaranteed and 5 years.) Doing pretty well the last 2 seasons with both.
Sign Nap. Harris for $10 Mil guaranteed and let his ass go.
So bad players or bad mgmt. decision? It sure as hell wan’t a money factor with Carl. Poor talent evaluation IMHO.
THE_TRUTH - November 20, 2008
Same With McIntosh
We’ve got him for five more years of a seven year contract after this one. Who gives a seven year contract with guaranteed money to any player who’s not an All-Pro who will most likely keep playing like an All-Pro?
Oh, that’s right…Carl Peterson does. He loves anchoring us long-term to those players he thinks might be “steals”. Probably because the players who are most likely to be good don’t want anything to do with him and his buffoonery in contract negotiations.
UCrawford - November 20, 2008
Savage is a good story but...
Savage is a great feel good story, but really has not been great on kick returns. We will see when he clears waivers and the chiefs put him in on the practice squad that the rest of the league sees him the same way. Walden played well early on specials, but he has kind of dissapeared.
I am starting to think that kurahich and his gang are being paid by the transaction. I can not believe the turnover on the roster, but injuries and a lack of quality players will do that. I guess it is worth it if we can find a couple of starters off other teams practice squads. The other teams in the league must be terrified of us stealing their young players of practice squads.
saskwatch - November 19, 2008
Again
Savage was not a kick returner. He just so happened to be better than the crappy one we signed to do the job in the first place. I think he would have been a good replacement for Charles in ways that Battle is a good replacement for Johnson
KansasCityShuffle - November 19, 2008
Agreed
I don’t think Savage was cut out to be a returner. He tried hard and put out maximum effort but Robinson looked so much better than him in the limited playing time he got. I do think that Savage could have panned out as a backup running back instead…and I don’t care how fast Battle ran at his combine, the guy’s shown nothing to indicate he’s a pro player. He’s got plenty of tools and few skills.
UCrawford - November 19, 2008
Surprising
Battle’s the same type of smashmouth RB as LJ, and I can’t see that type of back working well in the spread. Strange.
We can only assume the Chiefs know what they’re doing.-cw
webby37 - November 19, 2008
Not So Strange
When you consider the guy writing the lineups.
UCrawford - November 19, 2008
You aren't going to be in the spread all the time
Goal line situations like we got into last week are a perfect example of where the spread loses effectivness. At some point, you’ve got to be able to be in 3rd and 1 and get a yard or 3rd and goal and get a TD by running it.
If they’re going to get rid of LJ, they will need a smashmouth back for those short yardage situations, Charles and Kolby Smith aren’t really cut out for that.
ChiefDJ - November 19, 2008
Yeah, as evidenced
by both of them getting injured. They aren’t built tough.
ilamuku - November 20, 2008
Not totally giving up on him
It looks like the Chiefs want him, it is just that with the musical chairs game, someone has to lose the seat. Hopefully he will clear waivers. I also thing Savage has a place on our team. I really don’t think our offense has an identity yet. As we saw inside the 5 yard line last week, we still need the options of smash mouth and finesse. I’d like having the smash mouth grind and pound it out ball, if we had the other weapons to keep the opposing defense honest. I think we are getting to a good balance now.
Savage will fit in nicely in the not to distant future.
TXChiefan - November 19, 2008
We thought the same about Maurice Price
KansasCityShuffle - November 19, 2008
Chiefs could have gotten Price back
When the Patriots cut him but chose not to. Evidently they didn’t want him that bad.
ChiefDJ - November 19, 2008
If you had a choice
between the Pats practice squad or the Chiefs…..who would you chose?
KansasCityShuffle - November 19, 2008
The Chiefs
Being on an active roster, no matter how crappy the team is, gets you more money, more practice, and more exposure to the rest of the league than being on a practice squad.
PVChiefsfan - November 19, 2008
But
he wasn’t on our active roster. I can possibly agree he had more of a chance to make ours considering the player turnover we have but our receiver corps hasn’t endured any injuries this season (thank goodness). Perhaps he preferred the coaching, the successful system and an opportunity to learn from a Randy Moss? Patriots have also been known to pay some of their practice squad players well
KansasCityShuffle - November 19, 2008
Or perhaps
The Chiefs didn’t want him which is why they cut him in the first place.
ChiefDJ - November 20, 2008
Record?
This has to be some kind of record year for injuries.
ChiefsDude - November 19, 2008
Gatewood from Beverly Hills cop?!
Eric Allen - November 19, 2008
I think Battle has potential; I liked what I saw with him against Detroit last year. With KS at a likely crossroads next year and LJ at best a 50/50 shot, it makes perfect sense to evaluate him as per ChiefDJ’s post.
Dan Holmes - November 19, 2008
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Arrowhead Pride to post a comment.